Lamp support



Nov. 1, 1955 GOODWlN 2,722,317

' LAMP SUPPORT Filed Aug. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jizwzfi Kenya 1? 62040; W M s Nov. 1, 1955 Filed Aug. 2, 1952 G. R. eooowm 2,722,317

LAMP SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Shem 2 United States Patent LAMP SUPPORT George R. Goodwin, Seekonk, Mass., assignor to Miller Electric Co., Pawtucket, R. 1., a corporation of Rhode Island Application August 2, 1952, Serial No. 302,382

3 Claims. (Cl. 21189) This invention relates to lamp supports and has for an object'to provide a support for a series of lamps which can be arranged in any desired design and which can be changed readily from one to a different design.

A further object is to provide a support member or section which can be associated with other similar members or sections to provide convenient means for adaptation for designs of light arrangements of different sizes.

Still another object is to provide such a support which can be attached to a base in various relationships with the lamp bulbs extending in different directions as desired.

Still another object is to provide such a support which can be manufactured and sold at low cost.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one section of a support embodying the invention and showing a manner of mounting it and attaching another support section thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the support showing the method of mounting a lamp thereon.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figires 4 and 5 are edge elevational views showing by way of example two diiferent lamp designs which can be made by employing supports constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a lamp husk.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a washer.

Figure 8 is a side elevation showing the washer of Figure 7 pressed onto the husk of Figure 8. v

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the husk and washer in the supporting strip.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the parts of Figure 9 initially assembled.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view on line 11-11 of Figure 10 and showing the parts about to be secured together.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, but showing the parts after the securing operation.

Figure 13 is a sectional view on line 1313 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing a manner of securing adjacent ends of contiguous support sections together.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of Figure 14.

Figures 16 and 17 are fragmentary side elevational views showing successive stages in the securing operation of contiguous sections.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the support as shown comprises a strip 1, preferably of readily bendable material such, for example as aluminum, and having spaced therealong sets of parallel relatively long slits 2 which form between them portions 4 which are laterally deflected from the adjacent strip material to form loops. Also, as shown, the material between the slits 2 and adjacent side edges of the strip is bent in the reverse direction to form loops 5. The loops 4 and 5 together form sockets for the reception of lamp husks 7 for the lamps.

The lamp husks are prepared for insertion in the sockets formed by the loops 4 and 5 in the manner illustrated in Figures 6 to 13. In Figure 6 there is shown a lamp husk 7, and in Figure 7 there is illustrated a flat washer 8 encircling the husk and having extended outwardly therefrom on one side of its diametrical center, a pair of laterally bent ears 9. This washer is of such internal size that it may be pressed onto the husk from the lower end, taking the position shown in Figure 8. the washer thus secured thereto is then pushed upwardly between the loops 4 and 5 into the position shown in Figures 10 and 11. The loops 4 and 5 are then pressed together, as by the jaw members 10 and 11, which contact the loops 4 and 5 spaced between their central and end portions, pressing the portions 12 of these loops into contact with the husk and with the washer 8 lying in one of the slits 2. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 12 that the ears 9 being at one side of a diametrical axis are both positioned on the same side of the strip 1 and are bent or canted out of the plane of the remainder of the washer and thus prevent, by one or the other coming in contact with the side face of this strip, any substantial rocking of the husk about its longitudinal axis, While the main body of the washer coming between the loop 4 and one of the loops 5, and being rigidly secured to the husk, prevents axial motion of the husk. Thus the husks are secured at intervals along the length of the strip 1.

The portions between and on opposite sides of the relatively short slits 3 may be laterally deflected as at 15 to form loops through which may be driven fasteners such as nails 16 by which the strip may be secured on edge to a suitable support.

It may sometimes be desired to fasten the strips flatwise to the support, and for this purpose there may be provided at suitable intervals nail-receiving perforations 17 therethrough. Each of the strips is preferably provided with a plurality of lamp-receiving sockets and preferably equal in number to those commonly associated in a set or string of miniature lights.

A plurality of such strips may be secured together and for this purpose the end of each strip may be cut to form a laterally extending tongue 20 which may be inserted in a loop 21 of the next adjacent or contiguous strip. The confronting end portions of the two strips may be laterally offset as shown at 22 (Figures 14 to 17), to form transverse shoulders so that the strips back of their end portions are brought into the same plane after assembly, and the end portions 23 and 24 of adjacent strips overlap and are held in alinement by the engagement of the end of one strip on the shoulder of the adjacent strip. By this means the strips are secured together rigidly to form a substantially continuous support for the lamps.

With this construction the sets of lamps may be arranged readily in any desired formation, the strip material, as before noted, being preferably easily bendable so that the strips may be arranged with the lights in any desired pattern forms. For example, in Figure 5 the strips are arranged in the form of a star and in Figure 4 they are arranged in the form of a bell. The several sets of lamps which may be necessary to complete the design may be electrically connected by the usual plug and socket end connectors 25 which are shown disconnected in both Figures 4 and 5.

Heretofore it has been usual practice to form up each individual design of lamps in a permanent frame, but this is an expensive matter and does not lend itself to ready changes of design. However, with the arrangement shown it is an easy matter to remove the mounting strip from its support and to bend it into any other desired form without damage and without requiring any permanent pre-shaped structure to support the lamps.

The husk with From the foregoing description of an embodiment of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim:

1. A holder comprising a strip of bendable material, spaced substantially parallel slits cut through said strip, the material between and beyond said slits being deflected laterally in opposite directions to form sockets, an article seated in each socket, a washer encircling each article and having its outer edge portion projecting beyond the edges of both walls of one of said slits and canted to secure each article against axial movement in its respective socket.

2. A holder comprising a strip of bendable material, spaced substantially parallel slits cut through said strip, the material between and beyond said slits being deflected laterally in opposite directions to form sockets, an article seated in each socket, and a washer pressed onto each article and lying in one of said slits the outer edge portion of the washer projecting beyond the edges of both walls of one of said slits and preventing axial motion of said articles relative to said strip, said washers having tongues positioned on the same side of said strip and laterally bent and by contact with said strip preventing substantial turning of the corresponding article about its axis.

3. A support comprising a plurality of alined strips, each of said strips being provided between its ends with article-holding means, each of said strips at each end being provided along one side with a laterally extending tongue and adjacent to its opposite side with a longitudinally extending loop, the tongue of one strip end being adapted to extend through the loop of the next adjacent strip and the tongue of the adjacent strip extending through the loop of the first mentioned strip and hold said strips with their adjacent ends in overlapping relation, said overlapping portions of adjacent strips being ofiset in opposite directions to form shoulders holding said strips in alinement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 249,909 Donahue Nov. 22, 1881 1,571,000 Eustis Jan. 26, 1926 1,628,249 Kirfman May 10, 1927 1,726,585 Propp Sept. 3, 1929 2,059,653 Pretzfelder Nov. 3, 1936 2,478,143 Watts Aug. 2, 1949 2,497,523 Warkentin Feb. 14,, 1950 2,522,672 Graham Sept. 19, 1950 2,523,465 Graham Sept. 26, 1950 

